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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Tuning of photoreceptor function in three mantis shrimp species that inhabit a range of depths. I. Visual pigments.

Visual pigments in many animal species, including stomatopod crustaceans, are adapted to the photic environments inhabited by that species. However, some species occupy a diversity of environments as adults (such as a range of depths in the ocean), and a single set of visual pigments would not be equally adaptive for all habitats in which individuals live. We characterized the visual pigment complements of three species of stomatopod crustaceans, Haptosquilla trispinosa, Gonodactylellus affinis, and Gonodactylopsis spongicola, which are unusual for this group in that each lives at depths from the subtidal to several tens of meters. Using microspectrophotometry, we determined the visual pigments in all classes of main rhabdoms in individuals of each species from shallow or deep habitats. Each species expressed the typical diversity of visual pigments commonly found in stomatopods, but there was little or no evidence of differential expression of visual pigments in animals of any species collected from different depths. Vision in these species, therefore, is not tuned to spectral characteristics of the photic environment by varying the assemblages of visual pigments appearing in their retinas.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Tuning of photoreceptor function in three mantis shrimp species that inhabit a range of depths. II. Filter pigments.

Within single species of stomatopod crustaceans, visual pigment classes of homologous photoreceptors throughout the retina are identical in all individuals and do not vary with the spectral characteristics of local habitats. We examined whether spectral sensitivities of stomatopod photoreceptors are differentially tuned through variations in the filter pigments associated with particular receptor classes. All classes of intrarhabdomal filters were characterized using microspectrophotometry in retinas of three stomatopod species, Haptosquilla trispinosa, Gonodactylellus affinis, and Gonodactylopsis spongicola, comparing individuals of each species collected from shallow or deep water. Depending on the depth of collection, filters varied among individuals both in optical density and in spectral shape, and the variation that was observed was similar in all three species. The changes in filter density and spectrum increased absolute sensitivity in retinas of animals living at greater depths, and tuned their long-wavelength photoreceptors for improved function in the bluer light available in deep water. Plasticity in retinal spectral function may be common in mantis shrimp species that occupy a range of habitat depths.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Multidimensional polarization sensitivity in damselfishes.

Using electroretinogram recording and microspectrophotometry we investigated spectral sensitivity and ultraviolet polarization sensitivity in three species of coral reef fishes commonly known as damselfishes. Here we show that three species of damselfishes (three-spot damselfish, Dascyllus trimaculatus; blacktail damselfish, D. melanurus; and blue-green chromis, Chromis viridis) have four classes of cone photoreceptors (lambda(max) ranges: ultraviolet 357-367 nm; short wavelength-sensitive 469-478 nm; medium wavelength-sensitive 482-493 nm; long wavelength-sensitive 512-524 nm; rods 499-500 nm). The three species shared similar combined spectral sensitivity but surprisingly complicated and varied polarization sensitivity. Damselfish examined in this study have three and four channel polarization sensitivity, the most complex polarization sensitivity recorded for any vertebrate. Such capacity could play an important role in mediating a conspecific visual communication network utilizing polarized light signals in the coral reef environment.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

The cone photoreceptors and visual pigments of chameleons.

Visual pigments, oil droplets and photoreceptor types in the retinas of four species of true chameleons have been examined by microspectrophotometry. The species occupy different photic environments: two species of Chamaeleo are from Madagascar and two species of Furcifer are from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In addition to double cones, four spectrally distinct classes of single cone were identified. No rod photoreceptors were observed. The visual pigments appear to be mixtures of rhodopsins and porphyropsins. Double cones contained a pale oil droplet in the principle member and both outer segments contained a long-wave-sensitive visual pigment with a spectral maximum between about 555 nm and 610 nm, depending on the rhodopsin/porphyropsin mixture. Long-wave-sensitive single cones contained a visual pigment spectrally identical to the double cones, but combined with a yellow oil droplet. The other three classes of single cone contained visual pigments with maxima at about 480-505, 440-450 and 375-385 nm, combined with yellow, clear and transparent oil droplets respectively. The latter two classes were sparsely distributed. The transmission of the lens and cornea of C. dilepis was measured and found to be transparent throughout the visible and near ultraviolet, with a cut off at about 350 nm.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Tuning of photoreceptor spectral sensitivity in fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).

Sexual communication between male and female fireflies involves the visual detection of species-specific bioluminescent signals. Firefly species vary spectrally in both their emitted light and in the sensitivity of the eye, depending on the time when each is active. Tuning of spectral sensitivity in three firefly species that occupy different photic niches was investigated using light and electron microscopy, microspectrophotometry, and intracellular recording to characterize the location and spectral absorption of the screening pigments that filter incoming light, the visual pigments that receive this filtered light, and the visual spectral sensitivity. Twilight-active species had similar pink screening pigments, but the visual pigment of Photinus pyralis peaked near 545 nm, while that of P. scintillans had a lambdamax near 557 nm. The night-active Photuris versicolo, had a yellow screening pigment that was uniquely localized, while its visual pigment was similar to that of P. pyralis. These results show that both screening and visual pigments vary among species. Modeling of spectral tuning indicates that the combination of screening and visual pigments found in the retina of each species provides the best possible match of sensitivity to bioluminescent emission. This combination also produced model sensitivity spectra that closely resemble sensitivities measured either with electroretinographic or intracellular techniques. Vision in both species of Photinus appears to be evolutionarily tuned for maximum discrimination of conspecific signals from spectrally broader backgrounds. Ph. versicolor, on the other hand, appears to have a visual system that offers a compromise between maximum sensitivity to, and maximum discrimination of, their signals.

Animal Communication↗
PubMed2000

Visual pigments, oil droplets, ocular media and cone photoreceptor distribution in two species of passerine bird: the blue tit (Parus caeruleus L.) and the blackbird (Turdus merula L.).

The spectral absorption characteristics of the retinal photoreceptors of the blue tit (Parus caeruleus) and blackbird (Turdus merula) were investigated using microspectrophotometry. The retinae of both species contained rods, double cones and four spectrally distinct types of single cone. Whilst the visual pigments and cone oil droplets in the other receptor types are very similar in both species, the wavelength of maximum sensitivity (lambda(max)) of long-wavelength-sensitive single and double cone visual pigment occurs at a shorter wavelength (557 nm) in the blackbird than in the blue tit (563 nm). Oil droplets located in the long-wavelength-sensitive-single cones of both species cut off wavelengths below 570-573 nm, theoretically shifting cone peak spectral sensitivity some 40 nm towards the long-wavelength end of the spectrum. This raises the possibility that the precise lambda(max) of the long-wavelength-sensitive visual pigment is optimised for the visual function of the double cones. The distribution of cone photoreceptors across the retina, determined using conventional light and fluorescence microscopy, also varies between the two species and may reflect differences in their visual ecology.

Absorption↗
PubMed2000

Cyclic GMP attenuates cyclic AMP-stimulated inotropy and oxygen consumption in control and hypertrophic hearts.

We tested the hypothesis that increasing myocardial cyclic GMP would attenuate cyclic AMP induced positive inotropy and O2 consumption, in part, through changes in cyclic AMP and that renal hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy (HYP) would alter this relationship. Anesthetized, open chest rabbits (N = 48) were divided into four groups of control (CON) and HYP animals which received vehicle (VEH), isoproterenol 10(-6)M (ISO), 3-morpholinosyndnonimine 10(-4)M, (SIN-1), or a combination of ISO+SIN-1. Coronary blood flow (microspheres) and O2 extraction (microspectrophotometry) were used to determine O2 consumption in both subepicardium (EPI) and subendocardium (ENDO). Left ventricular change in wall thickness (%) was increased significantly by ISO in both CON (16 +/- 4 to 31 +/- 6) and HYP (17 +/- 2 to 24 +/- 3). Percent change in wall thickness was similar in the CON, SIN-1, and ISO+SIN-1 groups. Myocardial O2 consumption (ml O2/min/100 g) was increased by ISO in CON (10.3 +/- 1.0 to 13.6 +/- 2.0 EPI; 10.9 +/- 1.0 17.1 +/- 1.7 ENDO) and HYP (8.2 +/- 1.4 to 12.3 +/- 2.2 EPI; 6.6 +/- 1.4 to 14.8 +/- 1.8 ENDO). Oxygen consumption was unaffected by SIN-1 in CON and HYP animals. ISO+SIN-1 caused attenuated ISO-induced increases in O2 consumption in CON in EPI and ENDO, and in EPI in HYP. Cyclic GMP (pmol/g) was unchanged by ISO in CON and HYP, and increased by SIN-1 in CON (8.1 +/- 1.3 to 19.2 +/- 2.3 EPI) and HYP (9.1 +/- 1.5 to 12.8 +/- 2.0 EPI). Cyclic GMP remained elevated with ISO+SIN-1 in both groups. Cyclic AMP (pmol/g) was increased significantly by ISO in CON (496 +/- 43 to 725 +/- 106 EPI; 534 +/- 44 to 756 +/- 148 ENDO) and insignificantly in HYP (435 +/- 50 to 566 +/- 35 EPI; 497 +/- 51 to 583 +/- 47 ENDO). Cyclic AMP levels were unaffected by SIN-1 in either group. Isoproterenol induced increases in cyclic AMP were blunted by ISO+SIN-1 in CON (496 +/- 43 to 537 +/- 59 EPI) and not affected in HYP. The current study demonstrated attenuation of cyclic AMP mediated increased inotropy and O2 consumption by increasing cyclic GMP, which appeared, in part, related to cyclic GMP-induced reduction in cyclic AMP. This effect of cyclic GMP on cyclic AMP was not observed in myocardial hypertrophy.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Simultaneous measurements of electrical activity, intracellular [Ca2+] and force in intact smooth muscle.

Although both electrical activity and changes in intracellular [Ca2+] are known to be important determinants of smooth muscle force, little is known about the relationship between the three in intact muscle. This is due to a lack of simultaneous measurements of these parameters. In this paper we describe how we have combined the sucrose gap technique with microspectrophotometry and force recording in rat ureteric smooth muscle. We have investigated the timecourses of the changes in these parameters following physiological stimulation i.e. the action potential. The results of this paper show that it is possible to simultaneously measure electrical activity, [Ca] and force in intact smooth muscle and that (i) about a third of the change in Ca2+ occurs on the upstroke of the action potential and the remainder during the plateau. (ii) 50% of the decline in [Ca2+] occurs after the repolarization of the action potential and (iii) the kinetics of force development and relaxation are significantly slower than those of Ca2+, suggesting that [Ca2+] is not rate-limiting. These are the first such simultaneous measurements in any smooth muscle.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1998

Altered relationship between cyclic GMP and myocardial O2 consumption in renal hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

We tested the hypothesis that preventing cyclic GMP degradation with zaprinast, (a selective cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor) would produce a blunted reduction in myocardial O2 consumption in renal hypertension (One Kidney-One Clip, 1K1C)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Four groups of anesthetized open-chest New Zealand white rabbits (n = 26) were utilized. Either vehicle or zaprinast (3 x 10(-3) M) was applied topically to the left ventricular surface of control or 1K1C rabbits. Coronary blood flow (radioactive microspheres) and O2 extraction (microspectrophotometry) were used to determine O2 consumption. Myocardial cyclic GMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The 1K1C rabbits had a greater heart weight-to-body weight ratio (2.94 +/- 0.08 g/kg) than controls (2.58 +/- 0.17). Systolic blood pressure was higher in 1K1C (102 +/- 9 mm Hg) than in controls (86 +/- 3). Zaprinast significantly and similarly increased cyclic GMP in both control (3.90 +/- 0.47 to 4.66 +/- 0.89 pmol/g) subepicardium (EPI) and (5.08 +/- 0.69 to 7.06 +/- 1.36) subendocardium (ENDO) and 1K1C hearts (5.53 +/- 0.61 to 7.48 +/- 1.51 EPI and 6.48 +/- 0.42 to 8.88 +/- 1.08 ENDO). Myocardial O2 consumption (ml O2/min/ 100 g) was significantly lower in controls treated with zaprinast (EPI: 8.8 +/- 0.1; ENDO: 9.5 +/- 1.9) than in controls treated with vehicle (EPI: 13.6 +/- 1.3; ENDO: 16.2 +/- 2.9). This effect was diminished in 1K1C rabbits treated with zaprinast (EPI: 10.3 +/- 2.4; ENDO: 11.2 +/- 2.6) compared with the vehicle-treated 1K1C group (EPI: 13.3 +/- 1.2; ENDO: 14.5 +/- 2.4). There was a similar increase in myocardial cyclic GMP after treatment with zaprinast, but a greater depression of myocardial O2 consumption in control animals than in 1K1C after treatment with zaprinast. This suggested that the reduction in myocardial O2 consumption, related to increases in cyclic GMP caused by cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase blockade, was less in 1K1C cardiac hypertrophy.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Ommatidial heterogeneity in the compound eye of the male small white butterfly, Pieris rapae crucivora.

The ommatidia in the ventral two-thirds of the compound eye of male Pieris rapae crucivora are not uniform. Each ommatidium contains nine photoreceptor cells. Four cells (R1-4) form the distal two-thirds of the rhabdom, four cells (R5-8) approximately occupy the proximal one-third of the rhabdom, and the ninth cell (R9) takes up a minor basal part of the rhabdom. The R5-8 photoreceptor cells contain clusters of reddish pigment adjacent to the rhabdom. From the position of the pigment clusters, three types of ommatidia can be identified: the trapezoidal (type I), square (type II), and rectangular type (type III). Microspectrophotometry with an epi-illumination microscope has revealed that the reflectance spectra of type I and type III ommatidia peak at 635 nm and those of type II ommatidia peak at 675 nm. The bandwith of the reflectance spectra is 40-50 nm. Type II ommatidia strongly fluoresce under ultra-violet and violet epi-illumination. The three types of ommatidia are randomly distributed. The ommatidial heterogeneity is presumably crucial for color discrimination.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Electron transfer in crystals of the binary and ternary complexes of methylamine dehydrogenase with amicyanin and cytochrome c551i as detected by EPR spectroscopy.

EPR studies of the methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH)-amicyanin and MADH-amicyanin-cytochrome c551i crystalline complexes have been performed on randomly oriented microcrystals before and after exposure to the substrate, methylamine, as a function of pH. The results show that EPR signals from the redox centers present in the various proteins can be observed simultaneously. These results complement and extend earlier studies of the complexes under similar conditions that utilized single-crystal polarized absorption microspectrophotometry. The binary complex shows a blue copper axial signal, characteristic of oxidized amicyanin. After reaction of substrate with the MADH coenzyme tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ), the binary complex exhibits an equilibrium mixture of oxidized copper/reduced TTQ and reduced copper/TTQ. radical, whose ratio is dependent on the pH. In the oxidized ternary complex, the same copper axial signal is observed superimposed on the low-spin ferric heme features characteristic of oxidized cytochrome c551i. After addition of substrate to the ternary complex, a decrease of the copper signal is observed, concomitant with the appearance of the radical signal derived from the semiquinone form of TTQ. The equilibrium distribution of electrons between TTQ and copper as a function of pH is similar to that observed for the binary complex. This result was essential to establish that the copper center retains its function within the crystalline ternary complex. At high pH, with time the low-spin heme EPR features disappear and the spectrum indicates that full reduction of the complex by substrate has occurred.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1980

Carcinoma in situ of the vulva: a continuing challenge.

The epidemiologic data, clinical features, associated diseases, and histologic characteristics present in 50 cases of carcinoma in situ of the vulva are analyzed. A comparison of follow-up results obtained with various treatment methods is presented. With primary surgery the recurrence rate is dependent on the presence or absence of tumor at the surgical margins. Deoxyribonucleic acid patterns, determined by microspectrophotometry, were aneuploid in 92% of the cases studied. Five patients (10%) with aneuploid lesions, observed without therapy, experienced spontaneous regression of tumor and replacement of abnormal areas by euploid epithelium.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Effect of pentobarbital on cerebral regional venous O2 saturation heterogeneity.

Observed venous O2 saturation inhomogeneity in the brain implies a microregional imbalance in O2 supply/consumption. We hypothesized that this heterogeneity should be decreased by pentobarbital anesthesia through a reduction in regional metabolic heterogeneity. Male, Long-Evans, approximately 350 g rats were either anesthetized with 50 mg/kg pentobarbital (n = 10) or used as a conscious control group (n = 10, catheters inserted two hours earlier under ether anesthesia). In each rat, regional cerebral blood flow was determined by [14C]iodoantipyrine and regional arterial and venous O2 saturation were determined by microspectrophotometry. In the PB group, the mean blood pressure (107 +/- 7 Torr), heart rate (362 +/- 29/min), average cerebral blood flow (63 +/- 19 ml/min/100 g), and average cerebral O2 consumption (3.7 +/- 1.2 ml O2/min/100 g) were lower than those values in the conscious group (128 +/- 15, 474 +/- 44, 112 +/- 40, and 7 +/- 3), respectively. O2 extraction did not change after pentobarbital anesthesia. However, the dispersion of venous O2 saturation narrowed. The distribution of O2 saturations in 373 cerebral veins of anesthetized rats had a significantly reduced coefficient of variation [C.V. = 100 x (S.D./mean) = 13] as compared to a C.V. of 18 in 320 veins in conscious rats. Thus, pentobarbital anesthesia reduced the microregional venous O2 saturation inhomogeneity in the brain, creating a more uniform balance of oxygen supply and consumption.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Improvement in regional myocardial O2 supply and O2 consumption by nitroglycerin during ischemia.

In eight open-chest anesthetized dogs, nitroglycerin (10 micrograms/kg per min) was infused intravenously for 2 h, beginning 10 min following ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Oxygen supply, (radioactive microspheres), extraction (microspectrophotometry) and consumption were determined in subepicardial and subendocardial regions of both ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium, and compared to eight control hearts. In control, coronary occlusion reduced both subepicardial and subendocardial blood flow by 49.5% and 79.5% respectively. In the presence of nitroglycerin, depression of blood flow to the occluded regions was significantly less marked (-79.5% in control and -26.6% in the nitroglycerin group in the subendocardium). O2 extraction was significantly lowered by nitroglycerin in all areas. Regional O2 consumption was significantly lower in the control occluded than non-occluded regions; no regional O2 consumption differences were observed following nitroglycerin. In the occluded regions, nitroglycerin reduced the number of veins with very low O2 saturation. It is concluded that nitroglycerin improves the O2 supply/consumption balance in ischemia by redistribution of blood flow and possibly by alterations in local O2 consumption.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and blockade during myocardial ischemia in dogs: effect on cardiac O2 supply and consumption.

The effect of beta-adrenoceptor blockade and activation on ischemic regional and microregional myocardial O2 supply/consumption parameters was assessed in 28 open chest, anesthetized dogs. Ten minutes after LAD occlusion, dogs were given i.v. saline, 2 mg/kg propranolol, 0.2 mg/kg pindolol, or 1 microgram/kg per min isoproterenol. Coronary blood flow was determined using radioactive microspheres before and 2 h after LAD occlusion while O2 supply/consumption parameters were determined using microspectrophotometry. Ischemia resulted in a 66% reduction in subendocardial flow in controls in the ischemic zone and no experimental treatment significantly altered this flow. Pindolol resulted in a significant improvement in the ischemic regional subendocardial/subepicardial flow ratio (from 0.69 in the control ischemic region to 0.88 during pindolol treatment). O2 extractions were significantly increased and O2 consumptions were significantly depressed in the ischemic regions of all groups. O2 extractions were increased to a lesser degree in the ischemic region with the use of pindolol and propranolol. Propranolol and pindolol both significantly decreased the proportion of veins with low (0-20%) O2 saturations in the ischemic region indicating an improved microregional distribution of blood flow and/or O2 consumption within the ischemic region.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1984

Expression of myoblast and myocyte antigens in relation to differentiation and the cell cycle.

Cell cycle parameters and expression of myoblast and myocyte antigens were investigated during exponential growth and during the differentiation phase of rat L8( E63 ) myoblasts by an integrated approach involving microspectrophotometry with DNA fluorochromes, [3H]thymidine autoradiography, and immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies. In addition to the majority of cells which are recruited into myotubes, two distinct populations of mononucleate cells were resolved in cultures of rat myoblasts undergoing differentiation. These mononucleate cells consist of (1) a population of proliferating cells with a prolonged G1 transit time; (2) a population of non-proliferating cells which remain arrested in G1 for more than 72 h. The latter group was examined with respect to the expression of two marker antigens recognized by two monoclonal antibodies: antibody B58 reacts with a macromolecular component present in undifferentiated myoblasts but not in mature myotubes, and antibody XMlb reacts with a muscle-specific isoform of myosin. All four possible combinations of expression of these antigens by single cells were found: B58 +XM1b -, B58 +XM1b +, B58 - XM1b -, and B58 - XMlb +. The implication of these findings with respect to the transition from the proliferative to the differentiative phase of myogenesis is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Deacylation kinetics of gamma-chymotrypsin in solution and in the crystal.

The rate of catalyzed hydrolysis of the acyl enzyme analogs indolacryloyl-gamma-chymotrypsin and furylacryloyl-gamma-chymotrypsin in the crystal has been measured by single crystal microspectrophotometry and compared with the rate of catalyzed hydrolysis of acyl-gamma-chymotrypsin in solution and acyl-alpha-chymotrypsin both in solution and in the crystal. The maximal deacylation rate is the same for both species and independent of the physical state. However, the pH dependence of the deacylation rate of crystalline acyl-gamma-chymotrypsin shows a 0.9 unit shift in the pK of the catalytic system which is unique and probably consequent to specific lattice interactions.

Acylation↗
PubMed1991

Crystallization and preliminary data for the ferric form of Lucina pectinata hemoglobin I.

Cytoplasmic monomeric hemoglobin I from the bacteria-harboring gill of the bivalve mollusc Lucina pectinata has been crystallized in a form suitable for atomic resolution X-ray structural investigations. The crystals have been grown at pH 4.8, in 0.05 M-acetate buffer, using 2.6 M-ammonium sulfate as precipitating agent. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit cell constants a = 50.0 A, b = 38.6 A, c = 42.1 A, beta = 107.1 degrees, and contain one molecule (14,000 Mr) in the asymmetric unit. By means of single crystal microspectrophotometry it has been shown that the crystals contain the ferric form of L. pectinata "sulfide reactive" hemoglobin I. On the other hand, by careful control of the buffering medium composition, it has been possible to obtain stable crystals of the deoxy, oxy and sulfide forms of the protein.

Animals↗